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Recounts for Fountain, Harrison D-2 to be complete by Nov. 22

Fountain City Council member Sam Heckman told his opponent Greg Lauer on election night that he wouldn't concede.

The Nov. 5 city council race was within six votes for a four-year term, at-large seat, with incumbent Heckman behind.

"I told him there is always that chance and now that chance has happened," Heckman said.

El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Wayne Williams will count the votes again.

The Fountain City Council race is one of two that will officially be recounted. The other is the Harrison School Board District No. 2, where opponents Steven Seibert and Ryan Thompson squared off for a four-year term on the board and were three votes apart with Seibert ahead in the unofficial Nov. 6 vote count and the official vote count released Thursday.

"It could go any way," Thompson said. "I just hope what ever way, I hope the voters get their will. All the candidates were very qualified. I'll be happy with whatever the outcome."

Colorado law mandates a recount when the vote margin between candidates is .5 percent. After all military and overseas ballots were counted Seibert had 2,471 votes and Thompson had 2,468 votes. In Fountain, Lauer had 1,274 votes and Heckman had 1,268 votes.

"I'm little anxious to have the entire formal process finished either way so we can get down to business," Lauer said. "I would be very excited if it still falls in my favor."

The official tally of all El Paso County races was released Thursday, five days ahead of the Nov. 19 deadline. The county, with assistance from Clear Ballot Company, also tested the county's voting equipment, which passed its audit with 100 percent accuracy, a county spokesman said. The official count and equipment audit had to be complete before a recount could take place.

Williams hopes to have the recount of the two races completed by Nov. 22.

"We understand that it is important for our citizens to have the correct people begin their elected service in a timely fashion," Williams said.

Fountain, which is about 10 miles southwest of Colorado Springs and directly east of Fort Carson, is in the midst of a growth spurt. Fountain's population has grown 159 percent since 1990, bringing its population to 27,460. Growth and development were top issues in the council elections.

"Whatever the outcome, with the new voting system and mail ballots, I just want it to be accurate," Heckman said. "I would love to continue for four more years. We have a lot of things to do."